If you don’t buy this version of the Apple Watch, you’re making a huge mistake by Matt Johnston – Business Insider

If you don’t buy this version of the Apple Watch, you’re making a huge mistake

After seeing all the reviews, watching all the interviews, and hearing Tim Cook sing its praises, I finally decided to get over to an Apple Store and try on the Apple Watch for myself.

As I’ve written before, I’m not a smartwatch rookie. I’ve been wearing a Samsung Gear Fit for eight months, and I’m a big fan of both that device and the concept of a smartwatch in general. So I know what it feels like to wear one of these things on your wrist every day.

I was eager to see how the Apple Watch compared.

One thing was clear to me within 20 seconds of my Apple Watch appointment: The cheapest version made of aluminum, the Apple Watch Sport, is the best. There is almost no reason to choose any other model as your first Apple Watch. Unless you have a ton of extra money, the Sport is the best option.

The Apple Watch Sport (42mm) was the first one to be placed on my wrist, and it felt fantastic.

It was soft but not slippery, thanks to the rubbery sport band that let the Watch cling to my wrist. It attaches to the aluminum casing on the watch seamlessly and looked quite nice. I unbuckled and buckled it back up a couple of times to see how easy it was to take on and off. I found it to be even easier than my current smartwatch, which I regularly have to perform finger gymnastics to attach.

It was great.

Business Insider / Matt JohnstonThe Sport band.

Then I asked the Apple Store employee whether I could try the Milanese loop band, which is generally one of the most popular early bands. I was not a fan. It leaves me wondering what all the fuss is about with this band. It got off to a good start. The Milanese loop goes on about as easy as a band possibly could. It fastens with a magnet, sort of like those slap bracelets from the ’90s. The stainless steel mesh band looks pretty nice, too, but that’s where all positive aspects of my experience with this band end.

I found the Milanese loop to be very uncomfortable. I didn’t like the feeling of the metal links against my wrist. But the worst aspect of the band was simply that it never felt as if it fit. It’s easily adjustable, but no matter how I adjusted it, it always felt as if the band would fall off. It felt heavy and cumbersome. And you couldn’t even consider wearing it to a workout. You’d have to shell out an extra $50 for another band.

Business Insider / Matt JohnstonThe Milanese loop.

This band alone will run you an extra $150. It looks all right, but the Sport is all you really need. Which bring me to my final, important point: You can buy any band at any time and attach it to your existing Apple Watch.

So if you buy a Sport now and genuinely want something more premium-looking (which I’m guessing most people will not), you can always buy another band later and simply attach it.

I didn’t get a chance to try on the classic buckle loop ($149), the modern buckle ($249), or the pricey link bracelet ($449). And who knows, more people than I think might be interested in those bands. But there’s no reason to buy anything but the Sport out of the box. You can always easily change your mind and get another one, and chances are you’ll want the Sport anyway for exercising.

In short, it’s hard to screw up your purchase by spending the minimum on the Apple Watch Sport, which starts at $349 for the 38mm. I’d recommend everyone try on these things first before buying them, given the high price differential, but take it from me: You’ll probably end up with the Sport.